Introduction

The three parts of ISO 11228 establish ergonomic recommendations for different manual handling tasks. All the parts apply to such vocational and non-occupational activities. The standards will provide information for designers, employers, employees and others involved in work, job and product design. It is connected with ISO 11226.

This part of ISO 11228 is the first International Standard on manual handling.

Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are common worldwide and one of the most frequent disorders in occupational health.

Factors such as the size and mass of the object being handled, working posture, and the frequency and duration of manual handling can alone, or in combination, lead to a hazardous handling activity and correspond to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

It is desirable to specify the recommended limits for the mass of objects in combination with working postures, and frequency and duration of manual handling which persons may be reasonably expected to exert when carrying out activities associated with manual handling.

An ergonomic approach has a significant impact on reducing the risks of lifting and carrying. Of particular relevance is a good design of the work, especially the tasks and the workplace, which may include the use of appropriate aids.

This part of ISO 11228 provides a step-by-step approach to estimating the health risks of manual lifting and carrying; at each step, recommended limits are proposed. In addition, practical guidance for ergonomic organization of manual handling is given in Annexes, A, B and C.

The risk-assessment model presented allows the estimation of the risk associated with a manual material-handling task. It takes into consideration the hazards (unfavourable conditions) related to the manual lifting and the time spent with manual-handling activities. Unfavourable conditions could be high masses to be manipulated or awkward postures required during the lifting process such as twisted or bent trunks or far reaches. This part of ISO 11228 provides information on both repetitive and non-repetitive lifting.

The recommended limits provided are based on the integration of data derived from four major research approaches, namely the epidemiological, the biomechanical, the physiological and the psychophysical approach.

BS ISO 11228-1:2003

Ergonomics. Manual handling - Lifting and carrying

Published:

31 Jul 2012

Withdrawn:

28 Mar 2022